Child Safety Seat Assembly

ABSTRACT

A child safety seat assembly comprises a base including a plurality of protruding sidewalls, and a seat movably assembled with the base including a plurality of anchoring slots adapted to retain a portion of a safety belt, wherein seat is movably adjustable between an erected position and a reclined position relative to the base. Some of the anchoring slots can be selectively obstructed by the sidewalls of the base when the seat is adjusted to a different inclination relative to the base. As a result, erroneous operations for securing the seat assembly with a safety belt can be prevented, and the seat assembly can be safer in use.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Chinese application no.200910168797.5 filed on Sep. 4, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a child safety seat assembly, and moreparticularly to a child safety seat assembly that can be adjustablebetween a vertically erected position and a reclined position.

2. Description of the Related Art

Utility Model Patent No. CN2767245, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference, describes a child safety seat assemblythat includes a base and a seat having a backrest. For securing the seatassembly in a vehicle, the seat assembly includes a plurality of lowerslots provided at two sides of the base, and upper slots located on anupper rear region of the backrest at left and right sides. While theseat assembly is placed in a rearward position (i.e., where the rear ofthe seat is oriented toward the front of the vehicle), the safety beltof the vehicle can be held in the aforementioned lower and upper slotsfor securely restraining the seat assembly. However, the aboveconstruction is adapted to secure the seat assembly in only one fixedconfiguration, and cannot restrain the seat assembly if it is placed ina different position.

Therefore, there is a need for an adjustable child safety seat assemblythat can be manufactured in a cost-effective manner, and address atleast the foregoing issues.

SUMMARY

The present application describes a child safety seat assembly. In oneembodiment, the child safety seat assembly comprises a base including aplurality of protruding sidewalls, and a seat movably assembled with thebase including a plurality of anchoring slots adapted to retain aportion of a safety belt of a vehicle, wherein the seat is movablyadjustable between an erected position and a reclined position relativeto the base. According to certain embodiment, some of the anchoringslots can be selectively obstructed by the sidewalls of the base whenthe seat is adjusted relative to the base. As a result, erroneousoperations for securing the seat assembly with a safety belt can beprevented, and the seat assembly can be safer in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view illustrating one embodiment of a child safetyseat assembly;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic views illustrating the child safety seatassembly of FIG. 1 used on a vehicle seat in a forward position;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic views illustrating the child safety seatassembly of FIG. 1 used on a vehicle seat in a rearward position;

FIG. 6 is a left side view illustrating the child safety seat assemblyin a vertically erected position relative to the base;

FIG. 7 is a right side view illustrating the child safety seat assemblyin a reclined position relative to the base; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating another embodiment of the childsafety seat assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference is made to FIGS. 1, 6 and 7 to describe one embodiment of achild safety seat assembly 1. More specifically, FIG. 1 is an explodedview of the child safety seat assembly 1, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are left andright side views illustrating the child safety seat assembly 1 atdifferent inclinations. The child safety seat assembly 1 comprises aseat 11 and a base 12. The seat 11 and the base 12 can be configured astwo parts that are permanently joined with each other. The seat 11 maybe formed as a rigid shell comprising a seating portion, and a backrestconnected at a rear of the seating portion. The backrest of the seat 11can comprise two protruding rail portions 110 that are disposedsymmetrical on left and right sides. The rail portions 110 can have acurved or arc shape and are disposed parallel to each other along a rearof the backrest to a bottom of the seat 11.

As shown, each of the rail portions 110 includes a first anchoring slot111 that is arranged symmetrical at an upper side of each rail portion10, corresponding to an upper side of the backrest. The first anchoringslots 111 extend in a transversal direction through each rail portion110 from left to right. In addition, each first anchoring slot 111 canalso be provided with a spring-driven clipper 132. Either of the twoclippers 132 may be operable to clip and hold a portion of a safety beltpassed through the corresponding first anchoring slot 111 (as bettershown in FIG. 2).

The two rail portions 110 also respectively include a plurality ofsecond anchoring slots 112 and 113 (e.g., second anchoring slot 112 forthe right rail portion 110 as better shown in FIG. 7, and secondanchoring slot 113 for the left rail portion 110 as better shown inFIG. 1) disposed below the first anchoring slots 111 and at a lower sideof the backrest. Like the first anchoring slots 111, the secondanchoring slots 112 and 113 are disposed at symmetrical positions on thetwo rail portions 110, and also extend from left to right in atransversal direction through each rail portion 110. In one embodiment,the second anchoring slots 112 and 113 may be entirely closed on therear surface of the rail portions 110, such that a safety belt can beinserted through the second anchoring slots 112 and 113 of the railportions 110 only in a transversal direction (i.e., from left to rightor reversely).

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, the bottom portions of the two railportions 110 corresponding to a bottom of the seat 11 also respectivelyinclude a plurality of third anchoring slots 114 and 115 (e.g., thirdanchoring slot 114 for the left rail portion 110 as better shown in FIG.1, and third anchoring slot 115 for the right rail portion 110 as bettershown in FIG. 7). Like the first anchoring slots 111 and secondanchoring slots 112 and 113, the third anchoring slots 114 and 115 aredisposed at symmetrical positions on the two rail portions 110, and alsoextend from left to right in a transversal direction through each railportion 110. In addition, the third anchoring slots 114 and 115 alsorespectively include openings 1141 and 1151 through which a portion of asafety belt 31 can be inserted from a bottom of the seat 11 into thethird anchoring slots 114 and 115 (as better shown in FIGS. 4 and 5).

Aside the aforementioned anchoring slots, the two rail portions 110 alsoinclude a plurality of anchoring pockets 140. The anchoring pockets 140are opened on the rear surface of each rail portion 110 such that aportion of the safety belt 31 can be inserted from the rear of thebackrest into the anchoring pockets 140 (as better shown in FIGS. 4 and5). In one embodiment, two anchoring pockets 140 can be provided in eachrail portion 110, one above the other at positions approximately alignedhorizontally with the first anchoring slot 111 and second anchoringslots 112/113, the anchoring pockets 140 being opened toward the rear ofthe backrest. It is worth noting that the anchoring pockets can beformed with any shape. FIGS. 1 and 6 illustrate one embodiment in whicheach anchoring pocket 140 is half open on the upper side. FIG. 8illustrates another embodiment in which each anchoring pocket 140′ issubstantially enclosed in the rail portion 110 and is opened on the rearsurface of the rail portion 110 via a narrow slit.

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, the base 12 is permanentlyassembled with the seat 11. More specifically, the base 12 comprises tworecessed portions 120 into which the rail portions 110 can be movablyplaced. Each recessed portion 120 is delimited between two protrudingsidewalls 121 and 122. As shown, each of the sidewalls 121 is located atan inner side of the corresponding recessed portion 120 (i.e., closer toa central area of the base 12), whereas the sidewall 122 is located atan outer side of the corresponding recessed portion 120 (i.e., fartherfrom the central area of the base 12). As shown, the sidewalls 121 and122 can extend with different heights. In one embodiment, the sidewalls121 at the inner sides of the recessed portions 120 can protrude higherthan the sidewalls 122 at the outer sides of the recessed portions 120.Moreover, the higher portions of the sidewalls 121 can be located atpositions offset rearward from the sidewalls 122, such that thesidewalls 121 and 122 are misaligned from each other in a transversaldirection (e.g., the sidewalls 122 are closer to the front of the base12 than the sidewalls 121). As the seat 11 is adjusted relative to thebase 12 for modifying the inclination of the seat 11, the rail portions110 can move inside the recessed portions 120, and either of thesidewalls 121 and 122 can selectively obstruct some of theaforementioned anchoring slots for preventing erroneous insertion of thevehicle safety belt (as described in detail hereafter). In addition, alatching mechanism (not shown) may also be provided between the seat 11and the base 12 for locking the seat 11 in position once the seat 11 hasbeen adjusted to the desired inclination. As schematically shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the latching mechanism may comprise an operating handle131 provided at a front of the seat 11. The operating handle 131 can bemanipulated for unlocking the position of the seat 11 relative to thebase 12, for example. After it is unlocked, the seat 11 can be adjustedforward or backward to adjust the inclination of the seat 11 relative tothe base 12. It is worth noting that the operating handle 131 can alsobe provided at a front of the base 12 to allow convenient manipulationof the latching mechanism by a user.

According to one embodiment, the seat 11 can be adjusted between atleast a vertically erected position and a reclined position relative tothe base 12 in use. FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic views illustrating oneembodiment in which the child safety seat assembly 1 is used on avehicle seat 3 in a forward position (i.e., the front of the seat 11 isoriented toward the front of the vehicle). In this configuration, theseat 11 is in a vertically erected position relative to the base 12. Forsecuring the child safety seat assembly 1 on the vehicle seat 3, oneportion of the safety belt 31 (e.g., shoulder strap) passes from rightto left (or reversely) through the first anchoring slot 111 of one railportion 110 and is held by the clipper 132. Meanwhile, another portionof the safety belt 31 (e.g., lap strap) passes from right to left (orreversely) through and is retained in the second anchoring slots 112 and113 of the two rail portions 110 below the first anchoring slots 111. Asbetter shown in FIG. 6, in this erected position of the seat 11, thethird anchoring slots 114 and 115 of the two rail portions 110 being notused are moved to positions adjacent to the recessed portions 120 wherethey are obstructed at least by the sidewalls 122 of the base 12 (onlyone of the third anchoring slots 114 and 115 is illustrated in theobstructed state for avoiding redundancy). As a result, erroneousinsertion and use of the safety belt 31 in the third anchoring slots 114and 115 can be prevented when the child safety seat assembly 1 is usedin the forward position.

It is worth noting that the sidewalls 122 can either obstruct entirelythe third anchoring slots 114 and 115 (as shown in the embodiment ofFIG. 6), or only partially the openings 1141 and 1151 of the thirdanchoring slots 114 and 115 (as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 8) forblocking insertion of the safety belt.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic views illustrating one embodiment in whichthe child safety seat assembly 1 is used on a vehicle seat 3 in arearward position (i.e., the front of the seat 11 is oriented toward therear of the vehicle). In this configuration, the seat 11 is adjustedbackward to a reclined position relative to the base 12, such that thethird anchoring slots 114 and 115 are located outside the recessedportions 120, are uncovered by the sidewalls 122, and accessible from afront of the base 12. For securing the child safety seat assembly 1 onthe vehicle seat 3, one portion of the safety belt 31 (e.g., lap strap)is inserted via the openings 1141 and 1151 from the bottom of the seat11 into the exposed third anchoring slots 114 and 115. In this manner,the lap strap of the safety belt 31 can be retained in the thirdanchoring slots 114 and 115 of the two rail portions 110. Meanwhile,another portion of the safety belt 31 (e.g., shoulder strap) wrapsaround the rear of the backrest of the seat 11, and is retained in twoanchoring pockets 140 at different heights in the rail portions 110. Theshoulder strap can thereby extend along an oblique direction on the rearof the backrest. As better shown in FIG. 7, in this reclined position ofthe seat 11, the second anchoring slots 112 and 113 being not used aremoved to positions adjacent to the recessed portions 120 where they canbe obstructed by the sidewalls 121 of the base 12. As a result,erroneous insertion and use of the safety belt 31 in the secondanchoring slots 112 and 113 can be prevented when the child safety seatassembly 1 is used in the rearward position.

At least one advantage of the seat assembly described herein is theability to have the base selectively obstruct some anchoring slots ofthe seat that are not used when the seat is adjusted to a differentposition. As a result, erroneous operations for securing the seatassembly with a safety belt can be prevented, and the seat assembly canbe safer in use.

Realizations in accordance with the present invention therefore havebeen described only in the context of particular embodiments. Theseembodiments are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Manyvariations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible.Accordingly, plural instances may be provided for components describedherein as a single instance. Structures and functionality presented asdiscrete components in the exemplary configurations may be implementedas a combined structure or component. These and other variations,modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope ofthe invention as defined in the claims that follow.

1. A child safety seat assembly comprising: a base including a pluralityof protruding sidewalls; and a seat movably assembled with the baseincluding a plurality of anchoring slots adapted to retain a portion ofa safety belt; wherein the seat is movably adjustable between an erectedposition and a reclined position relative to the base.
 2. The childsafety seat assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seat is operableto cause the base to selectively obstruct at least one of the anchoringslots.
 3. The child safety seat assembly according to claim 2, whereinthe anchoring slots comprise: a first anchoring slot located at an upperside of a backrest of the seat; a second anchoring slot located at alower side of the backrest; and a third anchoring slot located on abottom of the seat.
 4. The child safety seat assembly according to claim3, wherein at least one of the sidewalls on the base obstructs the thirdanchoring slot when the seat is in the erected position relative to thebase.
 5. The child safety seat assembly according to claim 3, wherein atleast one of the sidewalls on the base obstructs the second anchoringslot when the seat is in the reclined position relative to the base. 6.The child safety seat assembly according to claim 3, wherein a set ofthe first, second and third anchoring slots is respectively provided ineach of two parallel rail portions provided on a rear of the backrestand a bottom of the seat, the rail portions having a curved profile andextending from the upper side of the backrest to the bottom of the seat.7. The child safety seat assembly according to claim 6, wherein the tworail portions, including the first, second and third anchoring slots,are located at symmetrical positions on a left and right side of thebackrest.
 8. The child safety seat assembly according to claim 7,wherein the sidewalls on the base obstruct the third anchoring slot ineach of the two rail portions when the seat is in the erected positionrelative to the base.
 9. The child safety seat assembly according toclaim 7, wherein the sidewalls on the base obstruct the second anchoringslot in each of the two rail portions when the seat is in the reclinedposition relative to the base.
 10. The child safety seat assemblyaccording to claim 7, wherein the sidewalls define two recessed portionsadapted to respectively receive the rail portions therein, each recessedportion being delimited between two of the sidewalls.
 11. The childsafety seat assembly according to claim 10, wherein the rail portionsare movable through the recessed portions when the seat is adjustedbetween the erected and reclined position relative to the base.
 12. Thechild safety seat assembly according to claim 7, wherein the first,second and third anchoring slots respectively extend in a transversaldirection from left to right through each of the rail portions.